Director
On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was serving as the Utah Highway Patrol Bureau Captain for central and southern Utah. After hearing a radio report of a passenger plane striking the World Trade Center, I returned to my home in Monroe so that I could view live news coverage. My wife, Keryl, reminds me that I declared that we were under attack before the second aircraft struck the South Tower. As the magnitude of this orchestrated attack became clear, I made contact with the Utah Department of Public Safety command staff at our Headquarters in Salt Lake. I recall the frustration of many of us that day as we monitored the news, communicated with other states and federal officials trying to evaluate if there were potential threats to Utah and the west.
Since that solemn and memorable day, I have strived in my areas of responsibility to help improve Utah's and the nation's capabilities and effectiveness in protecting our Homeland. There are many dedicated men and women in the Utah Department of Public Safety who are working diligently with our great partners from the local public safety, emergency management and health agencies around the state. Working as a team, they continually plan, train and exercise their capabilities to ensure that all of our citizens are prepared and protected to the highest degree possible. Whether we face a natural disaster, criminal activity or terrorist attacks, the professionals responsible for public safety and homeland security in our great state are actively engaged in preparedness efforts related to deterrence, prevention, response and recovery.
In Utah, we believe that Homeland Security is Hometown Security. It requires the expertise and resources of local police, fire, emergency management, health agencies, citizen volunteers and private sector partners all working very closely with their counterparts at the state and federal level to keep all of Utah as safe and secure as possible. This is the homeland security culture of Utah. The other very important part of this statewide public safety and homeland security team is YOU! Please review the information on our web site related to "Be Ready Utah." It will provide you with truly useful information designed to prepare your family for the potential hazards that can take place in your community.